Echo's of the Heart

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Nile of Hope Hospital 

Alexandria, Egypt 

July 31st - August 8th, 2026

Alexandria is the second largest city and the largest on the Mediterranean Coast. It lies on the western edge of the Nile Delta, and was founded in 331 BC. It has a large tertiary referral base for the region and is located about 2.5 hours’ drive north-west of Cairo. 

The city includes many historical treasures from its illustrious past, including the internationally  famous Library of Alexandria. This was one of the largest in the world over two millennia ago, but was partially destroyed during Roman skirmishes.  It has since recently been re-built. It has the capacity to house up to 8 million books although less than 1.5 million are currently in house. 

The Nile of Hope pediatric heart facility is a modern, well-equipped, not-for profit hospital supported by the government and by private donors. The hospital has excellent equipment and is supported by very well-trained, competent staff level.  They are seeking extra help to handle the more challenging cases, fine tune their ICU management and to embrace the increasingly large volume of referrals. Dr. Mohamed Abdelmalak Abokandil, CEO, Nile of Hope Hospital, invited the CardioStart team to join a one-week mission, led by Dr. Sameh Said, an Egyptian born native, (now in NY, USA), who is a regular visitor there.  

A team of 13 pediatric medical professionals and three outreach team members embarked on this first mission to Egypt.  Children aged 2 months to 9 years received surgical procedures to treat congenital heart disease during the week.

Operations carried out

Pt. Initials

Procedure

Outcome

YTMZ

Sinus Venosis type ASD repair

Satisfactory

AMAH

Subaortic membrane resection

Satisfactory

FAHA

AV Canal repair

Satisfactory

HKHA

Ventricular Septal Defect repair

Satisfactory

AAFE

Partial anomalous Venous  Connection repair

Satisfactory

SESE

Tetralogy of Fallot correction

Satisfactory

JAEN

Rastellii contegra failure -replacement with Pulmonary homograft (re-op)

CVA *

DMHS

Tricuspid Valve repair (re-op)

Satisfactory

MRNA

Ventricular Septal Defect repair

Satisfactory

HMMR

Complete Atrioventricular Canal Defect repair

Satisfactory

SAA

Ventricular Septal Defect repair

Satisfactory

HAG

Aortic Stenosis repair (failed angioplasty) Ross operation

Satisfactory

BBSH

Partial Atrioventricular Defect repair

Satisfactory

MAA

Aortic Coarctation repair (end-to-end oblique anastomosis)

Satisfactory

KKFA

Double Outlet RV/VSD/Fallot repair

CVA *

LAEI

Tetralogy of Fallot - correction

Satisfactory

MAMA

Double Outlet RV/VSD/TGA repair -  (Double Switch)

Died post-op

YKES

Subaortic membrane - resection

Satisfactory

YEEG

Tetralogy of Fallot correction

Satisfactory

KMAA

Transposition -Arterial switch

Satisfactory

MISI

Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous drainage -Re-direction

Satisfactory

NENA

Atrisal/Ventricular Septal Defect & Pulmonary stenosis - repair

Satisfactory

** Alive but with a technical issue intra-operatively, delaying ICU recovery. 

Education in the ICU

CardioStart Nurses from the USA provided bedside teaching with support of 2 US-based Pediatric Intensivist/Cardiologists.  They found the local team very skilled, motivated and welcoming of new policies/procedures and protocols to help them provide care for advanced levels of care.  After the mission CardioStart continue to reach out with tools and techniques to assist with developing skills. A heart-lung machine is being sent to the hospital from Ottawa, Canada, to assist with expanding case volume and safety assurance. 

Members of the CardioStart Team

Name

Name

Home Country

Sameh Said, MD

CV Surgeon/ Mission Director

USA/Egypt

Aubyn Marath, MD

CV Surgeon & Mission Co-Director

UK/USA

Andy Lodge MD

CV Surgeon

USA

Akinola Akinyemi MD

Anesthesiologist

Nigeria

Parvin Dorostkar, MD

Cardiologist/Intensivist

USA

Barbara Ferdman, MD

Cardiologist/Intensivist

USA

Kyle Sieck CCP

Pediatric Cardiologist

USA

William Nicotra, CCP

Senior Perfusionist

USA

Bryn Davies RN

Pediatric ICU Nurse

USA

Kenna Murphy RN

Pediatric ICU Nurse

USA

Debbie Castle RDCS

Cardiac Sonographer

USA

Mina Tohid RDCS

Cardiac Sonographer & Coordinator

USA

Gwyneth Westover

Database coordinator

USA

Acknowledgements

CardioStart gratefully acknowledges the following donors who helped make this mission possible.

• Artivion Inc., Kennesaw, GA, USA, for previous donation of homograft valve conduits.
• Americares Inc., Essential medicines and two pulse oximeters.
• Bill Nicotra, Senior representative, Custodial cardioplegic preservation systems, Inc., for donating solutions, and perfusion related donations.  
• Carrie Ochocki, Perfusionist, Brecksville, OH, USA for perfusion-related donations.  
• CardioStart International, Administrative staff for logistical management of the mission. 
• CardioStart Resale Thrift, Sisters, OR, USA, for financial support towards mission equipment costs. 

Acknowledgements (continued)

• Children’s LifeLine International, Denver, CO, USA, for financial support for some essential medications.
• Mrs. Pam Harned, for surgical equipment donations.
• Lake Oswego Methodist church, patch doll making group for donations of stuffed dolls and hearts to assist post-operative patient recovery splinting and comfort. 
• Rotary – Southtowne, Delta, & Springfield volunteers, Eugene, OR, USA, for equipment preparation, donation and logistics management. 
• John Sanders & Dr. Jennifer Crown, for financial support towards mission equipment costs. 
• Dr. Mohamed Malak Abokandil, Assistant and Strategic Management, Ms. Asmaa Fakry, the entire
• Pape Inc, Eugene, OR, USA, for heavy equipment loan in facilitating logistical management.
• Tisgen Inc., Irvine, CA, USA, for their generous donation of novel pericardial membrane.
• Dr. Dan Woodwood, Portland, OR, USA, anesthesiologist supporting medication donations. 
• Mr. Steven Yett, Eugene, OR, USA, for assistance with warehouse space for equipment donations.
• Perfusion department and Hospital Administration, Heart Institute, University of Ottawa, Canada, for donation of heart-lung machine. 

 Nile of Hope Hospital staff, and visiting surgeons from Cairo University,  for their collective collaboration and generous hospitality in support of the mission. 

Links:

• Egypt Mission Report on website

• Egypt Nile of Hope Hospital Pediatric Mission Repo (DOCX)